SDV is a technology enforced by the cable provider and is done differently in different regions. Just like they can't build in CableCards because they're provider specific they can't build in the SDV device.

If you want to get upset at someone it's the FCC & cable companies who force the need for SDV hardware by not providing a more efficient method.

IIRC, the FCC only mandated that a TA support 4 or the number supported by cable co supplied equipment, whichever is greater.

I did find a quote but have been unable to find the actual FCC document that it is presumably from:

To address the problems with tuning adapters identified by commenters, the satisfactory access standard will require cable operators to ensure that retail devices are able to tune at least as many switched digital channels as that operator&#8217;s most sophisticated operator-supplied set-top box or four simultaneous channels, whichever is greater.

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This might have been modified at some point in the two years since it went into affect.

I still am hoping for some sort of a check and balance from the tivo,
This is going to sound silly, but something as simple as checking to see if there's signal once a show was switched too. For example, I want to record something on the syfy channel, if it tunes into the syfy channel but there is no signal, try tuning in again.

9 times of of ten, the switched video just needs a second attempt at tuning it in.

I still am hoping for some sort of a check and balance from the tivo,
This is going to sound silly, but something as simple as checking to see if there's signal once a show was switched too. For example, I want to record something on the syfy channel, if it tunes into the syfy channel but there is no signal, try tuning in again.

9 times of of ten, the switched video just needs a second attempt at tuning it in.

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Though less likely, tuning failures can happen even when SDV is not being used, so tuning retries would be of benefit to everyone. It would also be nice if it verified the channel ID if it is available.

The FCC documents provide some interesting reading. TWC claimed that:

a. There were 0 problems with TAs

and

b. Even if there were, they were under absolutely no obligation to provide third party devices access to SDV channels.

How do i report TWC for fraudulent reporting? I know most of the local TW cable guys due to the stupid TAs

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Oh, I think the FCC knows they were lying, they just don't care all that much. This was mostly during the hearings where they were deciding whether or not to mandate back-channel IP for SDV control (which is what TiVo wanted). They concluded that it would be too expensive for MSOs that had already deployed substantial numbers of TAs.

I still am hoping for some sort of a check and balance from the tivo,
This is going to sound silly, but something as simple as checking to see if there's signal once a show was switched too. For example, I want to record something on the syfy channel, if it tunes into the syfy channel but there is no signal, try tuning in again.

9 times of of ten, the switched video just needs a second attempt at tuning it in.

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This has been known to TiVo for at least 3 years, i.e., back when the TiVo Series Three HD model was still being sold new. (I can prove this if necessary.) They have been completely mum on the subject. If there is some technical reason that software-based tuning retries were not feasible, they could have at least told us that.

Oh, I think the FCC knows they were lying, they just don't care all that much. This was mostly during the hearings where they were deciding whether or not to mandate back-channel IP for SDV control (which is what TiVo wanted). They concluded that it would be too expensive for MSOs that had already deployed substantial numbers of TAs.

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Basically there just aren't enough people using CableCARD and Tuning Adapters to provide the political justification to overcome the MSO's justifiable economic arguments. If the FCC actually did force deployment of a better back channel system, guess who would pay for the considerable costs?

The real 800 lb gorilla in the room is how are we going to pay for the infrastructure to give us what we really want and need: fiber into the home and an IP back channel, or even better, IPTV instead of Cable TV.

Especially problematic is how to deliver that to rural areas. In the late 1940's most farms didn't have electricity even though build out in cities started 50 years earlier.

I'm running through the guided setup on my new Roamio Pro and it popped up and said my tuning adapter does not support 6 tuners. My provider is Cox and the tuning adapter is a Motorola, I'll check out the model number later and post back.

I never watch or record any channels that use the tuning adapter anyway but I'm hoping when all of the updates and done it will work or Cox can update and/or provide a tuning adapter that works with 6 tuners.

I'll report my results back when it's all said and done. All of the updates and such seem to be taking forever but my patience/excitement ratio is getting the better of me at the moment.

Report Cox to the FCC. It's a mandate that all TRs support AT LEAST 6 tuners now (it's in the TR specification document).

Anyone having problems with channels not tuning needs to call their provider and get lines checked, not necessarily in your house either (can also be a problem on the main feeds). The Tuning Adapter has a line on the RF Status screen that shows how many "Retrans" it has run into - retran means it failed to send the tuning request and had to send it a second time, which isn't supposed to happen.

I've been fighting with TWC on this for over two weeks trying to get my retrans fixed... Frustrating doesn't even begin to explain it.

(4) Effective August 1, 2011, provide,
through the use of a commonly used
interface and published specifications
for communication, CableCARD-reliant,
firmware-upgradable navigation
devices the ability to tune simultaneously
as many switched-digital channels
as the greatest number of streams
supported by any set-top box provided
by the cable operator, or four simultaneous
channels, whichever is greater;